Vaughan Gething is Wales' new first minister

Vaughan Gething has been confirmed as Wales' new first minister.

It follows a vote in the Welsh Parliament after Mr Gething became the new leader of the Welsh Labour party, replacing Mark Drakeford who has left both roles after five years.

Mr Gething has spoken of his "honour" at being the first black leader of Wales and the "first black leader in any European country".

In a speech to the Senned Cymru, or Welsh Parliament, he said he wanted to lead a Wales "full of hope, ambition and unity".

The job of First Minister at the Senedd is carried out by the leader of the party with the most elected representatives, which at the moment is the Labour Party.

In a vote to confirm his appointment as leader he was backed by 27 Senedd members. His challengers, the Conservative Party's Andrew RT Davies got 13 votes and Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth had 11.

Vaughan Gething's name was then sent to the King who gave his approval, allowing the new first minister to officially take office.

Vaughan Gething signing his affirmation to the King

During Prime Ministers Question in the House of Commons, Rishi Sunak congratulated Mr Gething.

"The government I lead will always work tirelessly to benefit the lives of people across the United Kingdom, and I look forward to working constructively with the new first minister to deliver for the people of Wales," said Mr Sunak.

Who is Vaughan Gething?

Vaughan Gething was born in Zambia in 1974.

When he was two years old, he moved to Abergavenny in Monmouthshire in Wales, with his mum, dad, three brothers and a sister. He later grew up in Dorset in England.

Vaughan Gething trained as a lawyer, has experience in the Welsh government and was health minister during the Covid pandemic.

Since 2021 he's been working as the economy minister, in charge of Wales's money.

In a speech Vaughan Gething, said becoming first minister as a black person was "a matter of pride," he said, "I believe for a modern Wales, but also a daunting responsibility for me that I do not take lightly".

But he also suggested that he appointment may also result in some racist abuse:

"They will still question or deny my nationality, whilst others question why I'm 'playing the race card'.

"To those people, I say once more - it is very easy not to care about identity when your own has never once been questioned or held you back."

Controversy over campaign funding

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth whose party works with Labour on several policies said questions over Vaughan Gething's campaign donations is a "serious cloud over the office of first minister"

However, there have been arguments over a £200,000 donation to Vaughan Gething's leadership campaign from a company whose owner has been convicted of environmental offences.

Mr Gething has said there should be a review of the rules for funding future campaigns.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, whose party works with Labour on several policies in Wales, congratulated Mr Gething in his new job but added: "We will leave no stone unturned in holding the new first minister and his Labour Welsh government to account.

"Ongoing questions around donations to Vaughan Gething's campaign is now a serious cloud over the office of first minister," he added.

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies also congratulated Mr Gething but called on the new first minister to make a "fresh start" by scrapping current Labour policies including a 20mph speed limit on roads in parts of the country.